THE POLICE FORCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5534, 16 July 1920, Page 6

THE POLICE FORCE.

GRAVE DISSATISFACTION.

DEMAND FOR MORE PAY

One result of the latest increase announced in the cost of living figures has been to add to the already acute discontent which exists among members of the police force. At present policemen receive a flat rate of 12s a day, for work which is spread over seven days of the week and for which there is no compensation in the shape of overtime or any other “perquisites” sucli as fall to the lot of their more favored brethren in tlie Public Service. Employees of the Railway Department, for instance, receive a free pass over the railways of Athc Dominion for a period of a fortnight in each year, and also travel at ordinary times at less than the usual fare, this concession also applying to their wives and families. The bonus of 3s a day, recently granted by the Government, has materially bettered the raliwayinen’s position as compared with that of the police force. Prior to the war a policeman’s pay was 9s a day, two increases of Is Cd being granted when Mr T. M. Wilford was Minister of Justice. Even with this increase, members of the force complain that they are still the lowest paid of the Government servants, their wages not being equal to that of a general laborer, who works much easier hours, it is claimed, and who is paid for all overtime. A crossing-keeper is paid 15s a day, and the policemen consider that they are entitled to at. least, as much pay as this class of public servant. Meetings of tha force had recently been held in the various centres of the Dominion, at. which a statement of the men’s claims was set out for presentation to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice. The Dunedin police, it is understood, asked for a 6s a day increase, but the Christchurch force, considering that they had no chance of getting this amount, asked for 4s a day increase. To this statement a reply has been received, and the : men feel somewhat sore that they have I not even been favored with the courtesy ! of an answer.

It was held that to bring the pay of the force up to a pre-war level as regards purchasing value, an increase of 1 00 jjer cent would be necessary. Whilst it is realised that this is an impossible demand, it is felt that some substantial increase is necessary if members are to retain their loyalty and if the force is to be kept, up' to its present strength. By a recent regulation, if a policeman is" absent from duty through sickness he is put on half-pay. This, it is considered, is a particularly unjust regulation, as a policeman, from the nature of his duty, is more liable to contract sickness than is an employee in any other branch of the Public Service. Furthermore, the regulations make it mandatory on a policeman not to get into debt." “How a married constable with a family to support on 12s a day can keep out of debt is a problem about, as difficult as squaring the eternal triangle,” said one member of the force to the reporter. “The patience of the men is rapidly becoming exhausted.” said another member. “At present the older members are keeping the vounger men quiet, but the time will come when these younger men will make trouble—and that time is not far distant. The Government would naturallv count on the police remaining loyal if any section or the community 'kicked over tlie traces, but the temper of the men at present is such that the Government might find them aligned with the revolutionaries if trouble did break out.” It is understood that the men are awaiting the result of a conference which is at present being held in Wellbetween the heads or the various Departments in the Public Service. If the conference leads to a betterment of the policeman’s lot. matters will right fhemrelres. i f k bekeyed. but if uo improvement is fortheming “the Red Flag will he waved. ’ one policeman stated, and there will he serious trouble.—Christchurch Star.